The Acting President, Yemi,
Osinbajo, has dropped the two new members nominated to be on the board of the
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission who are
said to be undergoing investigations by the same commission.

Osinbajo had last week named a
new chairman and board members for the commission.

But there were media reports on
Friday that two of the board members are currently being investigated by the
ICPC.

The Senior Special Assistant to
the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed on his
Twitter handle on Sunday that the nomination of the affected persons was being
stepped down.

Akande said it had been confirmed
that the two nominees were being investigated by the agency they were nominated
to serve.

He said the situation presented a
conflict of interest.

Akande wrote, “We are stepping
down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues
with the commission as this presents a conflict.“While existence of allegations
or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them (six) from
considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have
confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating
the two of them.“A basic check showed no court
convictions against them. But when weighty petitions come up, this
administration will always do the right thing.”

Akande, had on Friday told our
correspondent that the allegation against the two nominees would be thoroughly
investigated.

“These claims would be promptly
investigated. The Presidency will surely do only what is right, proper and seen
to be so,” Akande had said.

Osinbajo had on Tuesday
redeployed the Chairman of the ICPC, Ekpo Nta, to the National Salaries,
Incomes and Wages Commission.

In his place, Prof. Bolaji
Owasanoye was appointed as chairman with a renewable tenure of five years.

Owasanoye was part of the Prof.
Itse Sagay-led Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption.